Cambridge University establishes Lego-funded “professorship of play” June 16, 2015 Everything is awesome – particularly if you have academic leanings but secretly want to play with kids’ toys all day. Cambridge University, the UK’s top educational establishment, is creating a “professorship of play” – which will be funded by toy giant Lego. The new role – professor of play in education, development and [...]
UK inflation: 33 charts showing how UK inflation rate compares to every inflation rate in every EU country June 16, 2015 The UK exited deflation in May, according to the ONS. In April consumer prices went on a brief foray into negative territory, but returned to meagre growth of 0.1 per cent for the year to May. Read more: The UK shrugs off deflation The Eurozone is beginning to get to grips with its own disinflation [...]
UK shrugs off deflation as prices rise 0.1 per cent in May June 16, 2015 Inflation rose by 0.1 per cent in the year to May according the Office for National Statistics, up from -0.1 per cent a month earlier, and ending a brief spell of deflation. "The largest upward contribution to the change came from transport services, notably air fares with the timing of Easter in April a likely [...]
Markets on red alert as Greeks dig in heels June 15, 2015 Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras insists his government will stand its ground against proposals demanded by creditors, as markets across Europe slide further into the red. City analysts now see a default and Greek exit from the Eurozone as an increasingly likely outcome. “We will patiently wait for the institutions [to] adhere to realism,” Tsipras [...]
Frackers rejoice after council warms to shale as Cuadrilla’s Lancashire proposal wins backing June 15, 2015 Frackers yesterday welcomed planning officers’ backing of Cuadrilla’s shale gas proposal at a site in Lancashire, saying it shows that communities are starting to warm to the controversial energy extraction technique. Lancashire council planning officers recommended that the council should approve Cuadrilla’s fracking application at the Preston New Road site when a decision is [...]
Saudi Stock Exchange opens to foreign investment: Meet the biggest companies you’ve never heard of June 15, 2015 Saudi Arabia’s largest natural resource is oil. Yet there is one deep, very different well that remains still untapped: direct foreign investment in the Tadawul, better known as the Saudi Stock Exchange. With a market capitalisation of more than $560bn (£360bn) it is the final major capital market not yet open to direct foreign investment. [...]
Airbus and Boeing deals cleared for takeoff at Paris air show June 15, 2015 Aerospace giants Airbus and Boeing opened the Paris air show with a flurry of multi-billion-dollar plane deals yesterday, as hungry Asian and Middle Eastern carriers put in orders faster than the rivals can make them. Airbus said Garuda Indonesia had signed a letter of intent to buy 30 A350 XWB jets, worth $9bn (£5.8bn) at [...]
European Central Bank president Mario Draghi tells European Parliament ball lies “squarely” in Greece’s court June 15, 2015 European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi said today that the ball lies in Greece's court, during a testimony before the European Parliament's Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee, after talks stalled last night. "While all actors will now need to go the extra mile, the ball lies squarely in the camp of the Greek government to take [...]
S&P: Greek non-payment to ECB “wouldn’t mean default” June 15, 2015 If Greece fails to repay €6.7bn (£4.8bn) worth of bonds held by the European Central Bank (ECB) at the end of July, this will not constitute a default, at least under criteria from credit ratings agency Standard & Poor's (S&P). Read more: With no deal on the cards, would the Eurozone be able to contain contagion from Greek [...]
Russian central bank slashes key interest rate June 15, 2015 The Central Bank of Russia has slashed its main interest rate by one percentage point to 11.5 per cent, amid a strengthening currency and inflation risks. It's slowed the pace at which it was cutting rates – the central bank cut the main interest rate by two percentage points in January, one percentage point in March and [...]